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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
slow-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
...
Hot dang.
I picked up Henry James' novel as part of the Booklover's project. I chose his most celebrated and am rather sorry for it. I loved it so much that it's a great disappointment to think the rest all fall below this one.
I've heard the judgement of verbosity pinned on James and I think it somewhat misleading. If a thing can be said in 4 words or 10, James will go for the 10. However, the incredible pace, meaning a gorgeously and perfectly steady one, is maintained only because he doesn't indulge in the verbosity of say Gaskell, or heck, Proust. He doesn't ramble off into never-ending thought trails, in this novel at least. Just saying.
I have my small gripe that makes this one more of a 4.7 than a full 5. That he too often explains everything that went on before when it was perfectly understood with his subtle hand. A bit like when someone feels the need to explain their joke. Takes the shine off. Nevertheless I would be doing it a disservice to call it anything less than a masterpiece.
James has a beautiful ability to shape character and plot movement. Each character was unreservedly distinct, with definite form and colour. James' brilliance is not in his depiction of motivation, as is Gaskells', but in humble yet vivid nuances of emotion and behaviour. Events intertwined gracefully and crossed just enough. The ending, thank goodness, does not insult the reader's intelligence.
rest of review @ ink + chai
Hot dang.
I picked up Henry James' novel as part of the Booklover's project. I chose his most celebrated and am rather sorry for it. I loved it so much that it's a great disappointment to think the rest all fall below this one.
I've heard the judgement of verbosity pinned on James and I think it somewhat misleading. If a thing can be said in 4 words or 10, James will go for the 10. However, the incredible pace, meaning a gorgeously and perfectly steady one, is maintained only because he doesn't indulge in the verbosity of say Gaskell, or heck, Proust. He doesn't ramble off into never-ending thought trails, in this novel at least. Just saying.
I have my small gripe that makes this one more of a 4.7 than a full 5. That he too often explains everything that went on before when it was perfectly understood with his subtle hand. A bit like when someone feels the need to explain their joke. Takes the shine off. Nevertheless I would be doing it a disservice to call it anything less than a masterpiece.
James has a beautiful ability to shape character and plot movement. Each character was unreservedly distinct, with definite form and colour. James' brilliance is not in his depiction of motivation, as is Gaskells', but in humble yet vivid nuances of emotion and behaviour. Events intertwined gracefully and crossed just enough. The ending, thank goodness, does not insult the reader's intelligence.
rest of review @ ink + chai
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For a classic English novel, this book was not as predictable as I expected. It’s fairly long, but the little surprises throughout kept me engaged. One of the better ones!
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The pose is fantastic, the ending is disappointing, I thought better of her
challenging
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted Isabel to fly free, I loved the first part of the book where she's discovering her freedom and having her ideas and plans. I was a so gutted when we jumped forwards in time and we got to see how she faired.
I enjoyed the style it felt surprisingly fresh for a book published in 1881.
If you're not a fan of an ambiguous ending beware for myself I enjoy deciding for myself.
I enjoyed the style it felt surprisingly fresh for a book published in 1881.
If you're not a fan of an ambiguous ending beware for myself I enjoy deciding for myself.